Method of making traction lugs



Dec. 31, {929. w. J. COULTAS 1,741,450

METHOD OF MAKING TRAGTIONLUGS Filed April 22, 1927 1 1.1 9 I zg z Igig/jar] Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILBUR J'.COULTAS, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO DEERE & COMPANY, OF

MOLINE, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS METHOD OF MAKING TRACTIONLUGS Application filed April 22,

The present invention relates to methods of making lugs for mounting ontraction Wheels, and pertains more specifically to the manufacture ofsuch lugs.

5 The type of lug to which the invention has reference is of invertedV-shaped section having laterally extending attaching flanges at thebase portion thereof for bolting or riveting to the rim of a wheel. Lugsof this type have application to the wheels of tractors, farm implementsand vehicles generally, where eiiicient tractive engagement wit-h theground is desired.

The principal aim of the invention is to provide an improved method ofmaking these lugs, whereby the cost thereof can be considerably reduced,and an improved construction of lug obtained.

Referring to the accompanying drawing illustrating the manner ofcarrying out my invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the stock material from which theblanks are cut.

Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views illustrating different steps in theprocess of manufacture, particularly where the blank is subjected to twodie forging operations, and

Fig. 4i is a sectional view illustrating the mounting of this type oflug on a traction Wheel.

Referring first to Fig. 3 which shows one of these lugs in its completedform, it will be seen that it comprises an inverted V-shaped portion 6,constituting the traction or ground engaging part of the lug, and twolaterally extending base flanges 7, by which the lug is fastened to thewheel. These base flanges have holes 8 punched therein for receivingbolts or rivets 9 which pass down through the rim of the wheel 10 (Fig.4:). It should be noted that in the finished lug the angle of theintermediate V-shaped portion 6 is relatively acute, thus giving atraction portion which is quite sharply pointed, such being desirablefor entering hard ground.

One of the features of the invention resides in manufacturing these lugsfrom standard angle bar stock of right angle cross section. Stock ofthis section can be bought on the market at a relatively low price, thusavoid- 1927. Serial No. 185,687.

outwardly projecting attaching flanges 7, and

which dies also squeeze the sides of the up standing angle portiontogether to produce the relatively narrow Wedge portion above referredto. This outward bending of the base flanges 7 and its squeezingtogether of the intermediate angle portion may be performed in a singleforging operation, or in two distinct operations. WVhere it is desiredto perform the same in two distinct operations the base flanges 7 may bebent outwardly in the first step, as shown in Fig. 2, and theintermediate angle portion then squeezed together in a separateoperatiomproducing the finished shape shown in Fig. 3. The punching ofthe holes 8 may be performed in either of these operations, or in aseparate operation.

It will be observed that the act of squeezing the wedge portion down toa smaller angle tends to crowd some of the metal together in the apex ofthe angle, as indicated at 14, thus increasing the sectional thicknessof the lug at this point, for greater wear and strength. I prefer toreduce the angle of this intermediate wedge portion from. the 90 angleof the original stock to approximately 30, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4,but this angle in the finislied lug may, of course, be varied asdesirec.

In mounting the lugs on metal wheels of the type shown in Fig. 4, I findit preferable to so arrange the lugs that a lug will be placed over theriveted outer end of each spoke 10.

This protects the riveted head. of the spoke against abrasion, and alsoresults in a better transmission of the driving stresses between thespokes and the lugs. Where bolts are used to fasten the lugs to thewheel these bolts are preferably of the square shoulder carriage typeand the holes 8 in the lugs are made square to hold these bolts againstturning.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The method of making traction wheel lugs of the class described,which comprises taking a blank of approximately right angle crosssection, bending the side portions thereof outwardly to form baseflanges for the lug, and squeezing the sides of the intermediate angleportion of the blank towards each other.

2. The method of making traction Wheel lugs of the class described,which comprises cutting blanks from stock angle bar oi": approximatelyright angle cross section, and bending the side portions of each oithese blanks outwardly to form base flanges for the lug;

3. The method of making traction wheel lugs of inverted V-shaped crosssection, which comprises cutting blanks from stock angle bar of rightangle cross section and then subjecting each blank to the action offorging dies to bend tne side portions thereof outwardly into baseflanges for the lug.

4. The method of making traction wheel lugs of the class described,which comprises taking a blank of angular cross section and squeezingtogether the side portions of the blank to form an intermediate treadportion for the lug of relatively narrow V-shaped section.

5. The method of making traction wheel lugs of the class described,which comprises cutting blanks from stock angle bar of approximatelyright angle cross section and then subjecting each of these blanks tothe action. of forging dies to squeeze the side portions together toform an intermediate tread portion for the lug of relatively narrow V-shaped section.

6. The method of making traction wheel lugs of the class described,which comprises taking a blank of angular cross section, and bending theside portions thereof outwardly to form base flanges for the lug, andsqueezing together the angle portion of the blank to form anintermediate tread portion for the lug of relatively narrow V-shapedsection.

7. The method of making traction wheel lugs of the class described,which comprises cutting blanks from stock angle bar of right angle crosssection, and then subjecting each of these blanks to the action of diesto bend the edge portion of each side flange outward- 1y to form baseflanges for the lug, and to squeeze the intermediate angle portion to areduced angle to form an intermediate tread portion for the lug ofrelatively narrow V- shaped section.

8. The method of making traction wheel lugs of the class described,which comprises cutting blanks from stock angle bar of right angle crosssection, heating these blanks, subjecting each blank to the action ofsuitable dies to bend the edge portion of each side a tread portion forthe lug of relatively narrow V-shaped section.

VVILBUR J. COULTAS.

